Democrat Calls Trump Tariffs A Good Plan

Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democratic congressman from Texas, recently spoke about President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on Mexico in an effort to address issues like illegal immigration and the fentanyl crisis. Cuellar, who represents Laredo—the largest port of entry between the U.S. and Mexico—acknowledged that tariffs could be an effective way to pressure Mexico into taking more action on these critical issues.

Cuellar explained that 40% of U.S.-Mexico trade passes through his district, making the region a vital hub for cross-border commerce. He suggested that tariffs, particularly a 25% levy on Mexican goods, could serve as a negotiating tool to bring Mexico to the table in discussions about improving border security and cracking down on the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. While he recognized that no one wants such high tariffs, he emphasized that they could create leverage, pushing Mexico to work more aggressively with the U.S. to resolve these challenges.

President-elect Trump has already made it clear that he plans to impose new tariffs at the start of his next term. His proposal includes a 25% tariff on goods from both Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. The goal of these tariffs is to compel these countries to take stronger action in preventing the flow of illegal drugs and securing the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump has argued that Mexico and Canada have the ability to address these problems and should be held accountable until they do.

While some critics, such as Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, have raised concerns about the potential economic consequences of such tariffs, many Republicans view them as a necessary step to tackle border security and combat the fentanyl crisis. By using tariffs as leverage, Trump aims to force foreign governments to take more responsibility for their role in border security and drug trafficking, which are key issues for many Americans.